Automatic water level control



March 30, 1948. R, P. YORKE AUTOMATIC WATER LEVEL CONTROL Filed Jan, 29, 1944 INVENTOR,

Patented Mar. 30, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC WATER LEVEL CONTROL Robert Parzilla Yorke, New Orleans, La.

Application January 29, 1944, Serial No. 520,290

1 Claim. 1

My invention relates to water supply systems as applied to fire extinguishing systems, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved pressure system. I

In the accompanying drawings;

Figure l is aschematic view in side elevation of a pressure tank structure in accordance with my invention, and

Figure 2 is an end view.

Pressure tanks in fire protection systems are required to maintain a predetermined volume of water at a predetermined pressure. The water supply tank should be filled to two-thirds of its cubic capacity and maintained under a given pressure through the medium of a compressed air system connected with the tank. This pressure may vary from '75 to 125 pounds depending upon operating conditions. Conventional systems employ a hydraulic pump for tank supplying purposes.

After the tank and piping system has been in use for a few years, small leaks develop and, by the use of water for testing purposes, the water level drops proportionately. After several hundred gallons of water have been used, it is then necessary to replenish the water in the tank to the correct level. The prescribed method of refilling is by the use of a hydraulic pump capable of delivering sixty-five gallons per minute at 12 pounds pressure. Ordinarily such a hydraulic pump costs in the neighborhood of $800.00 to $1,000.00 when installed. The tank should be refilled without releasing the air pressure, which pressure would, if released, render the tank useless in case of fire for the period required for refilling and restoring air pressure, a period running from two to four hours. Under present conditions, an air compressor may be used in combination with the hydraulic pump or separately.

Accordingly an object of my invention is to provide a novel water replenishing device designed to eliminate the necessity of a hydraulic pump, wherein the device is of such construction as to prevent the release of tank pressure when restoring the water to the correct water level in cases where ordinary pressure is used in the water supply line. The device operates to maintain the correct water level by an automatic gravity feed without serious disturbance of the correct proportion of air and water, namely, one-third and twothirds, respectively, with respect to volumetric capacity of the water tank.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, I make use of a supply tank l0 which may have a volumetric capacity varying standard discharge fitting I8 communicates with the bottom of the tank.

To the top of the tank I0 is connected an air inlet fitting 20 having communication with a compressed air line 22 leading to an air compressor not shown. A globe valve 24 is interposed in the line 22. A check valve 26 is also interposed in this line, both valves being located in advance of the fitting 20 and the air pressure gauge and safety valve 28. A pet cock 30 is supplied in the pipe 32 between the gauge 28 and the fitting 20.

Communicating with the tank I0 is a pipe 34 provided with a valve 36 and communicating with an air inlet fitting 38 of an auxiliary tank 40 mounted on the supply tank 10, as through the medium of saddles 42. The auxiliary tank has a capacity of from two hundred to five hundred gallons. An exhaust globe valve 44 is interposed in the pipe 34 in advance of the fitting 38 and the pressure gauge 46 communicating with the tank 40.

A water supply pipe 48 has communication with the fitting 38 and is provided with a check valve 50 and a globe valve 52. A standard discharge fitting 54 is provided for the tank 40 near its bottom and connects with a pipe 56 having com munication with a standard inlet fitting 58 attached to one end of the tank l0. An angle globe valve 60 is interposed in the pipe 55. A glass sight tube 62 is provided for the supply tank I0.

Figure 1 illustrates the correct Water level at 64, the inlet fitting 58 being located at this level. This water level is equal to .63 X the diameter of the tank In. The tank 40 must be elevated above the water line 64. When the tank 40 is attached in the manner shown and the valves 60 and 36 are closed, with the valve 44 opened, the water supply valve 52 is opened until water exhausts through the valve 44. This valve is then closed. The water supply valve '52 is closed and the filling valve 60 opened. After this procedure has been followed and the water in the tank I0 is at the proper level, the water reserve in the tank I!) will remain in the tank even with the valve 60 opened; but, if the water in the tank It] drops below the level indicated, and with the tank 40 full and the valve 60 open, the water in the tank 40 will, by a series of gurgles, admit air into the ting 58 and ra pidi filling of the-tank l-O be desired,

the valve 36 is opened. This will change the route of the air from the pipe 55 to the pipe 34 so that the water in the tank 40 will flow into the tank I through the line 55 by gravity without interruption from gurgles or air passing in the opposite direction. When thetank I0 is correctly filled with water and compressed air, and the valves 36, 44 and 52. are. closed and the tank 40 full of water, the valve may be opened and no additional Water from the tank ifi will flow into the tank l0. As water from thetank IEt is'u'sed through the tank outlet IS, on small" leaks lower the water-level, to a point below the inlet fitting 58 the tank 60 will automatically feed water intothe tank'lll and without" any loss of pressure-in either tank.

The tank 4 0: maintainsa reservoir of water to be supplied to the automatic sprinkler systernlfor extinguishing firesari-ywhere in the building. The air pressure is determined by the level at whichthetank is located, which may be in the basement or onthe'roof. The height of the building to the. tank W is also considered. The 'airpressureshould be suificient to force all the water in the tank I 5 through its outlet opening: f8 andinto the sprinkler pip-" ing; at a minimum pressureof fifteen pounds at thehighest level of the sprinkler'opening until the water in the tank is exhausted; the last of which still having a fifteen pound pressure.

In sprinkle systems supplied by: pressure tanks, it is necessary to employ the hydraulic filling pump approximately once" amonth. This requires the services of a mechanicat each refillmg. My invention eliminates the necessity of a monthly inspection or the use ofa hydraulic pump, and operates to automatically" keep the correct water level in the tank H3 at all times until the water in the tank 49 ist'all' used.

' Without further elaborationgthe foregoing will so fully explain; my invention, that others may,

by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim: In a water pressure system of the type described the combination of a water supply tank,

having a discharge outlet on the bottom of and,

adjacent one end thereof, an air inlet fittin on the top thereof havingcommunication with said supply tank, a line eminecting said fitting to. a' source of pniessure,v aglobe valve interposed in said line, remote from' said fitting a check valve interposed insaid line intermediate said 'on the top of. said auxiliary tank, a line connecting the on. the water supply tank. with the. fitting on the auxiliary tank, a valve interposed in said line between. the fitting. on. the water supply tank and. valve interposed inthe line adjacent the. fitting on the auxiliary feed tank, a pressure gaugemounted. on. the fitting on the auxiliary feed tank, a. water supply line connected to the fittingon the auxiliary feed tank,. a check valve and globe valve interposed. said supply line in advance of. said. fittingaconduit placing said auxiliarywater teed tank in communication: with said water supply tank at a point located: at thenormal water'level to be maintained in thewaterf supply tank and a valve interposed in said conduit intermediate said tanks.

ROBERT YORKE'.

REFERENCES CITED warm s'rrrrns PATENTS 

